School Hours
Our school day
Our day begins with prayer and runs from 8:00 am to early afternoon, with before and aftercare available for families who need extra time. Please review the arrival and dismissal procedures below. Following them keeps our students safe, our neighbors happy, and traffic moving.
Early Childhood School
8:00 am – 2:30 pm
Grades K–8
8:00 am – 2:40 pm
Before Care
Starts at 7:15 am
Aftercare
Until 4:00 or 5:30 pm
How the morning works: First bell rings at 8:00 am, followed by morning announcements, prayer, and attendance at 8:10 am. Upper School students may enter through the front and rear doors at 90 Pickering St. starting at 7:50 am to visit their lockers and get ready for the day.
Arrival & Dismissal
- All K–8 car line students are dropped off in the schoolyard car line.
- Enter the schoolyard from Highland Ave. and exit onto Pickering St. Right turn only at the end of the driveway.
- Form a single line and drop students at the play structure walkway/ramp.
- If you need to come into the building, park along the fence on the right.
- Please move through the schoolyard quickly to avoid backing up Highland Ave.
- Walkers may enter through the front door at 90 Pickering St. or the side entrance at 110 May St.
- Little Sharks (2.9): Walk your child into the building and classroom, and help them unpack.
- Preschool: Drop off at the Early Childhood School playground.
- Pre-K: Drop off at Door #2 of the Early Childhood School building.
- Park in designated areas only. Do not park in the Administration lot on Oakland Ave.
- Older siblings may cross with the crossing guard at Pickering and May/Oakland while you walk your younger child in.
- Little Sharks (2.9), Preschool, and Pre-K students are dismissed at the rear parking lot gate of the Early Childhood School building.
- Five car lines form in the schoolyard. Enter from Highland Ave. and exit onto Pickering St. Right turn only.
- Follow the direction of the staff member on duty.
- Once all students are in their cars, staff will release each lane in turn, starting with Lane 5 (farthest from the school).
- Please don’t block a lane. If your child hasn’t come out yet, circle around the building.
- Staff will pause traffic so students can walk to cars safely. Please stay in your car and don’t call your child over while traffic is moving. Staff will help your child if needed.
- Drive slowly, don’t idle, and no cell phones while in the car line.
- If a relative or friend is picking up, please share these procedures with them.
- Families picking up on foot meet students on the front lawn at 90 Pickering St.
- There is no dismissal from the Mary’s Garden entrance.
- Upper School students are also dismissed from the student exits on May St.
- Students in Grades 4–8 who live nearby may walk home. Please let your child’s homeroom teacher know at the start of the year.
- Students in Grades K–4 may not be dropped off unattended at any entrance or on the play structure before 8:00 am. Before Care is available on a drop-in basis.
- Follow all posted signs and Town of Needham parking rules.
- Do not park in the Needham Public Schools Administration Building lot.
- Do not park in, drive through, or drop off in the two Stephen Palmer Apartments lots (corner of Pickering and May).
- Pets must stay on leash. Some children have allergies or fears.
- Cross only at crosswalks and follow the crossing guards’ directions.